Fully automatic machine as well as gauges for multidimensional tolerance measuring and sorting of workpieces



Oct- 19 1954 D. s. sTALHANDsKE 12T AL 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCEMEASURING AND SORTING 0F WORKPIECES l Filed Feb. 17, 1949 13Sheets-:s116612 l 0d 19, 1954 D. s. s-rALHANDsKE ETAL l 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCEMESURING AND soRTING oF woRxPIEcEs Filed Feb. 17. 1949 INVENTQRSATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1954 D. G. sTALHANDsKE ETAL 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE As WELL As GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCEMEASURING AND somme oF woRxPxEcss Oct- 19, 1954 D. s. sTALHANDsKE ETAL2,692,045 FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONALTOLERANCE -MEASURING AND SORTING 0F WORKFIECES Filed Feb. 17. 1949 13Shel'ets-Sheet 4 Oct. 19, 1954 Q G, STALHANDSKE ETAL 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE As WELL As GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONALTOLERANCE.' MEASURING AND SORTING OF WORKPIECES Filed Feb. 17, 1949 13Shee'ts-Sheet 5 INVENTORS d) M DM dkw s 5 v m 04E/y ATTORNEYS Oct. 19,1954 D, G, STLHANDSKE ETAL. 2,692,045

` FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONALTOLERANCE MEASURING AND SORTING OF' WORKPIECES Filed Feb. 17, 1949 13Sheets-Sheet 6 @-J ab.' @11%,

ct. 19, 1954 D, G, STALHANDSKE ET AL 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE FOR MULTTDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCEMEASURING AND SORTING 0F WORKPIECES Filed Feb. 17, 1949 13 Sheets-Sheet7 3:--l15 l, //4 N C //3' l f Q.. @m-f f), MM40@ Filed Feb. 17, 1949Cct. 19, 1954 D, G, STALHANDSKE ETAL 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE As WELL As GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCEMEASURING AND soRTING 0F WORKPIECES 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. /0

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@@., 19, 1954 D, G, STLHANDSKE ETAL 2,692,045

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCEMEASURING ND SORTING OF WORKPIECES Filed Feb. 17, 1949 1,3 sheets-sheet9 E@ i954 y v D. G. STALHANDSKE ETAL FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL ASGAUGE FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCE MEASUR'ING A Filed Feb 17 1949 ANDSORTING 0F WORKPIECES 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 QQ AQ 3 Q u U Inti \x ct. 19,i954 D. G. STALHANDSK ETA!- FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE As WELL As GAUGE FORMULTIDIMENSIONAL ToLmANCE: MEAsURNG AND SORTING OF WORKPECES 13Sheets-Sheet 1l Filed Feb. 1'7, 1949 @Mib c. E9, 1954 G, STALHANQSKEETAL 2,692,45

FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE @AS WELL AS GAUGE' FOR MULTIDIMENSIONL TOLERANCENSURING AND SORTING 0F WORKPECES 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Feb. 17. 1949D. G. STLHANDSKE ET AL FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGE Oct. H9,1954 2,692,045

FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL TOLERANCE MEASURING AND soRTING 0F WORKPIECES 13Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Feb. 17, 1949 Patented Oct. 19, 1954 FULLYAUTOMATIC MACHINE AS WELL AS GAUGES FOR MULTIDEMENSLONAL TOL- Eli/ANCEMEASURING AND SORTING OF WORKPIECES David G. Stlhandske and ErikvA.Johnson, Bofors, Sweden Application February 17, 1949, Serial No. 76,894

1l Claims.

The present invention relates to a fully automatic machine for tolerancemeasuring and sorting of work pieces of complicated shape, internally aswell as externally (preferably of the kind manufactured in automaticlathes, but may also be used for worl; pieces of other kinds), as wellas measuring means and gauges for this or any other machine or apparatusintended for multidimensional measurement,

The chief purpose of the invention is to create a machine whichautomatically, rapidly and precisely controls and sorts complicateddetails, the manufacture of which is done on a large scale, as well asmeasuring means and gauges making such a measurement possible, and thusto reduce the costs caused by such a control, and also to permit are-setting of the machine at the smallest possible time and costs whenit is desired to control some other detail in same, i. e. the greatestpossible universality.

As will be known, the most ordinary control method is manual gauging bymeans of fixed gauges, i. e. measuring bodies such as gauges, rings,caliper gauges or form templets, corresponding to the highest and thelowest limit respectively of the dimension to be controlled. For simplermass-products there are often used gauges having indicators or lampsmarking the limits. As reading as well as sorting is manually effectedand the work is monotone, errors will easily arise, and therefore thismethod is not satisfactory.

The machine according to the present invention is mainly characterizedin that an adequate number (up to four in the embodiment shown) ofmeasuring stations may be mounted, which stations in respect ofprincipal parts are of a similar kind and through which the work piecesare fed stepwise for afterwards being sorted; and furthermore in that anumber of movable measuring members, according to the shape of the work.piece and the space conditioned by same, are mounted on each measuringstation, whereby internal as well as external diameters, length, depth,width and distance measures, etc., may be controlled, so that, when thework piece has passed through the measuring stations, all tolerancemeasures have been controlled. Thus, the number 01"' details measuredper time unit will be cormtant, no matter how many measures arecontrolled, and will consequently correspond to the time needed for onemeasuring operation if the machine shall work satisfactorily.

Each measuring station (or measuring unit) comprises a device forreceiving or carrying the work piece during the measuring and a numberoi' slides, guides or the like with pertinent driving means, on whichare mounted the measuring members adapted to the shape of the work pieceand the dimensions to be controlled in the re spective station. Thedriving means and the respective slides or guides are so arranged that,besides the main movement, also a secondary movement may be imparted tothe measuring members mounted thereon, whereby it is made possible tomeasure lsurfaces paralleling the die rection of the main movementwithout necessitating that the respective measuring pistons or shouldersare dragging (gliding) along the surface to be measured, and also tomeasure such surfaces which it would otherwise be impossible to measureon accountof the shape of the work piece.

The measuring members which are mounted on the respective slides orguides may be adapted either as universal (sett-able) devices for acertain category oi measures, for instance measuring means for externaldiameters for external diameter-measures, measuring means for externallengths for external length-measures, groove widths, flange 'thicknessesand distance measures, or as a universal. device provided with specialgauges dimensioned in accordance with the work piece, for instancemeasuring means for interiors, by which internal diameter, depth anddistance measures are controlled. ln. these special gauges, however,certain parts may be made universal.

These measuring means comprise a body or the like carrying and guidingthe diiierent movu able measuring jaws and pistons respectively, and amechanism which distributes and by means of springs transmits themeasuring motion from the driving mechanism, whereby a constant,individual measuring pressure is obtained on each surface to bemeasured, as Well as electrical contact means which close a circuit whenthe respective measures exceed the tolerance limits.

Through the current impulses received from the measurinsY contacts, alocking mechanism in the sorting unit is actuated by means or" electromagnets, the said locking mechanism thus reristering for each station ifany measure lies be yond the tolerance limits, and when the work piecehas passed all measuring stations, this locking m chanism actuates asorting device through which the work piece falls out in the duct or thepartition which corresponds to the defect it is beset with,independently of other as well as with Comptometer and fault-checking.

board indicating the different faultsf the work pieces.

The drawings show embgdimllts @Copding to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a View of the improved gauging and sorting machine in verticallongitudinal section on line I-I of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 1a is an enlarged view. in verticaly sect-ion` of the structuraldetail shown in Fig. 1 at one of the measuring stations.

Fig. 1b is a vertical section on line Ib--ib of Fig. 1a.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section of the sortingstation on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedv view in vertical transverse section of one of thegauging stations on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a is a view in top plan of one of the gauging stations;

Figs. 4 and 4a are vertical longitudinal sections taken on line-4 4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View in vertical longitudinal section taken on line 5 5 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the sorting station illustrated inFig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of the sortingstation taken on line 'l--l of Fig. 2;

Figs. 8 and 9 are details of the sorting station;

Fig. 10 is a view of one of the electrical oontact devices used incombination with any of the various types of gauges;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View in vertical longitudinal section of atypical multiple measurement plug gauge for gauging internal dimensions;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section on line I2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 1,1 showingl a modified type of gaugemounting.;

Fig. 14 is a view in vertical longitudinal seci tion on line Isl- I4 ofFig. 20 showing a modification of a multiple measurement plug gflllgevfor gauging internal, dimensions;

Fig. 15 is a View in vertical longitudinal section on line I5-I5 of Fig.2,1 showing another modified construction for a multiple measurementtype plug gauge;

Fig., 16 is a view in vertical longitudinal section on line I6-I6 ofFig. 22 showing still another type of multiple measurement plug gauge;

Fig. 17 is a View in vertical longitudinal section illustrating afurther modied construction for a multiple measurement type plug gauge;

Fig. 18 is a vertical transverse section on line IB-Ifof Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view related to explanation of the operationofthe plug gauges;

Fig. 20 ,is a vertical transverse section on line 2li-29 of Figl. r14f;

Fig. 21 is an endview of the gauge shown in Fig. r15;

Fig. 22v is averticalftransverse section on line agr-2.2 0f Eiga 162i'Figs. 23, 24 show details of the plug gauges; f

Fig. 25 is a vertical longitudinal section of a multiple measurementgauge for gauging eX- ternal lengths;

Fig. 26 is a vertical transverse section on line 26-260f Fig. 25;

Fig. 2'7 isy an end View of a modified construction for a multiplemeasurement type gauge for gauging external lengths;

Figs. 28, 29 are sectional details of the gauge shown in Figs. 2,5, 26;

Fig. 30j is a vertical transverse section of a multiple measurement typeof gauge for gauging external diameters;

Fig. 31 is a transverse view on line 3I-3I of Fig. 32; and

Fig. 32 isV a view in longitudinal elevation of the gauge, the detailsof which are shown in Figs. 30 and 31.

Feeding mechanism The machine shown on the drawing., Fig.` 1,l consistsof a foundation or frame I, on which aV feed device 2, one or moremeasuring units 3V and sorting means II are mounted in sequence.Anendless chain 5 is passing through these parts, the said chain beingcarried by chain wheels 6, l, 8, 9, journalled in the feed and thesorting device in an appropriate way, and also by guide bars In or thelike located between the measuring units, and the sorting meansrespectively. Figs. 1 and 2 show that the chain wheel 6 is driven forinstance via toothed Wheels II and I2 by a star Wheel mechanism. Thisn'iechanisrn,` Fie. 1, comprises a disc I4 journalled on a shaft I3.said disc being provided with radially projecting parts I5 between whichare radial grooves I6. A pin I3 on a Wheel I9; provided with a rollerI1, is arranged to engage saidggrooves, and when this engagement takesplace, the wheel I4 is caused to turn. The parts 2i) on the star wheelI4 between the projections I5 have concave edges and are arranged toco-operate with an arch-shaped part 2i on the wheel I9 so that thestarWheel I4, whennot turned by the, wheel I9, is retained through theengagement with the said arch-shaped part 2|.

The wheel I9, Fig. 2, is fixed on a shaft 22. which is driven at auniform speed during the entire operation of the machine. On the shaft22 is furthermore fixed a bevel gear 2.3, which co-operates with a(equally, large) bevel gear 24 on a shaft 2,5', Fig. 1, and transmitsthe drive via a shaft gear 26 tothe drivingshafts 21 of. the measuringunit.

A number of V-shaped blocks 3l, carriersv 01' the like are fastened onvthe chain 5 inanappropriate manner and with uniform pitch, andarrangedso as to carry or hold the Work piecel during the transport tothe sorting means.

Feed device The feed device, Fig. 1', consists of aframe. or casing 2;on which settably arranged' platesy or bars- 32, 3.3 are located, thework pieces. being.

placed on same until they by;v the machine are automatically fedin bymeans of a settable locking mec-hanismnonsisting of'for instance loci:-ying pieces 34'secured to a shaft 35 which is carriedby a loop-.36settablyv fixed-.to`r the frame 2. The shaft 3.5.15 actuated byforinstance. a link 31 connected with a crank. pin 38 on a shaft 39, whichis driven by the chain wheel 1 `v when the chain 5 is running;

Measuring unit The measuring units, Fig. 1 and Figs. 3 6, which inrespect of number may be adjusted to the nature of the work piece andthe construction of the gauges through displacing the feed or thesorting device and extending, and shortening respectively, the conveyorchain 5, consist of a frame or casing, on which one or more measuringmembers, movable in different directions, are acting, and a device forplacing or fixing the Work piece with a view to certain surfaces. As themachine shown is primarily intended for socalled automation details, i.e. work pieces made in automatic lathes and the surfaces of which areconsequently composed of different cylindrical or conical surfaces(rotation surfaces), internally as well as externally, but having acommon axis, each unit (or station) of the embodiment shown consists ofthree independent measuring members, two of them (with positionsdisplaced 180 relatively each other) having their main movement in thehorizontal plane (at a right angle to the conveyor chain) and beingintended primarily for internal feeding, one member measuring from oneend of the Work piece and the other from the opposite end, while thethird measuring member has its main movement in the vertical plane (fromabove), measuring ex ternal surfaces.

Figs. l and 3 6 show the measuring units without the special gauges andmeans which are adjusted to the dimensions to be measured in therespective stations, but with the slides or guides on which thedifferent gauges are placed, as well as the members giving these slidesor guides the necessary motion.

The horizontal motion of the measuring units Each measuring unit, Fig.3, consists of a frame or casing 3, in which the driving shaft 2li isjournalled and on which three curve discs 4I, 42, 43 are xed. Two ofthese actuate arms 4d journalled in the frame and provided with rollers45 which are pressed against the curve discs by springs 46, said springsbeing arranged for this purpose in a suitable Way, for instance througha piston 4l one end of which is connected with the respective arm 44 bymeans of a pin 48, and the other end of which is displaceably journalledin a sleeve 49, so that the spring is clamped between the piston flange50 and the sleeve flange 5i, which by means of an edge 52 pressesagainst a cover 53 fastened in the frame 3 and is guided in this by thesleeve part 54. The arms 44 are at their upper ends connected with a nut55, which by means of a screw 56 is settable in the longitudinaldirection of a slide 57. The screw 56 is mounted in the horizontallymovable slide 51 and is permitted a certain axial movement relativelythe slide, controlled by stop flanges 58. By means of a spring 59 thescrew is kept in the rear position (to the right) except when the slide(with the gauges placed on same) has reached the measuring position atwhich moment the movement of the slide is checked, either thereby thatthe slide strikes against an abutment 60 secured to the frame, orthereby that the gauges mounted on the slide strike against the workpiece when this is in the measuring position, the screw 56 being pushedforwards in its position relatively the slide because the spring actionon the arm ifi is greater than the spring action on the screw 56 in theopposite direction. An arm 6I is xed on the screw 56, which armtransmits the secondary movement obtained to the gauges mounted on theslide in cases' when the form of the work piece or the nature of thegauging necessitates such a movement.

The slide 51 is carried and guided for instance by guide rails 62 whichare provided on the frame 3 and by balls 63 provided between the slideand the rails, whereby the least possible friction is obtained withoutlash. Guides 54 mounted on the slide may furthermore be made settable bymeans of wedges 65 and set screws 66 (not shown) so that an appropriatebearing pressure is obtained. For the support of the balls when these atthe movement of the slide have passed beyond the ends of the guides,there is between the guide rails 52 and the guides 64' provided a ballrace 6l having the openings for the balls facing the guide rail 62. Inorder to prevent a successive displacement 0f the balls in one way orother along their direction of movement, stops 50, 68 are mounted on theframe, against which stops the ball race in such cases will strike, andthus the position of the balls and the ball race will be controlled whenthe slide 57 reaches its extreme position.

The vertical motion of the measuring units The driving member for thevertically movable measuring member, Figs. 1 and 3-4 is in respect ofmain principle like the members described in connection withhorizontally movable measuring members but has in the machine shown ofcourse got another constructional form with respect to details, both inconsideration of its location relatively the work piece and the conveyorchain and due to the fact that there is no need for exchanging theso-called primary movement, as has been done for the horizontal members,in order to obtain a greater movement than allowed by the curve discs atsuitable dimensions thereof.

Thus, the curve disc 43 actuates a slide Se by means of a roller 'liljournalled on the slide. The slide 59 is displaceably journalled in aframe ll, and the movement relatively the frame is limited to a certainsize by a shoulder or pin l2, whereby a movement is imparted also to theframe 'il the size of which movement is defined by the curve da. Theframe 'il is rigidly connected with guides "i3, which are verticallydisplaceably journalled in the frame 3, Fig. 4, and the upper ends ofwhich are so adapted that suitable gauges may be fixed thereon,according to the work piece and the nature of the measurement inquestion. The secondary movement needed for the gauges is, by way ofexample, obtained by means of rods 74, displaceably journalled in theguides 'i3 and con nected with the slide 69 by arms 'i5 journalled onthe frame TI. As this movable system operates vertically, it is presseddown against the curve disc via the roller l0 by its own weight, but ifa greater force is desired, this is obtained through inserting a spring'i6 in each guide 73, the lower end of said spring pressing against thebottom 'il of the guide tube and its upper end pressing against a flangei9 on a piston rod 80 which has its lower end locked in the frame by adisplaceable latch bolt 8|.

Carrying device of the measuring units As the conveyor chain and itsblock or carrier for the work piece do not give the work piece asuiiiciently precise position during the gauging with respect to theadvancing and insertion of the gauges in their gauging position, themachine is tted with special means to this end. Figs. 1, la, 3 and 5show by Way of example how these means are adapted for cylindricalworkpieces. Immediately beneath the conveyor chain with its conveyorblock or carrier 3|= a V-shaped bed 82, adapted to rit the work.- pieceand movable in vertical direction is, as shown most clearly in Fig. la,journalled in a bearing housing 83 iixed in the frame and is pressedupwards by a spring B, the power of which is greater than the weight ofthe work piece. The upwards movement of the carrying block is, as shownmost clearly in Fig. 1a, limited by wedge-shaped abutments 85, while itsdownwards movement is effected by an arm 06 turnably journalled in thebearing house ing 83` and actuated by the frame 'H when this comes nearits top position, or by a special cam device arranged on the shaft 2l..Through this device the longitudinal axis of the work piece comes inexact position as regards side direction, while an inferior inclinationis obtained corresponding to the tolerance for the diameter or diametersof the work piece relatively the carrying block upon which same isplaced, for which reason regard must be taken hereto at the adaptationand placing of the abutment surfaces of the gauges, so that the allowedtolerance for measuring of faults is not exceeded, but if required, themachine may be provided with a centering device (not shown in thedrawing) through which this inclination isr eliminated.

rI'he fixing of the work piece in longitudinal direction is effectedeither by rigid shoulders 01 according to Fig. 6, between which theworkpiece is advanced, a certain margin exceeding the maximum measure neededbetween the work piece and the shoulders, or one or both shoulders aremade movable as shown in Fig. 3, whereby a more exact position in thelongitudinal direction is obtained, which is advantageous in certaincases of gauging when the gauges cannot be moved so far as is otherwise`required. This device consists oi one or two jaws 88, turnablyjournalled in a mounting, or in two mountings respectively 60, and bymeans of rods 90 articulatedly connected` with pistons 9| acting againsteach other, between the oblique planes of which a wedge-shaped` piston92, Fig. 1, is pressed by means of a spring 93, whilethe movement of thelast mentioned piston in the opposite direction is effected by one endof an arm 94 acting on the piston in the opposite direction, saidf armbeing turnably journalled` in the bearing housing 83, and the other endrof said arm being actuated by the frame when this approaches its topposition.

Central. switch In order that the. contact arms in the different gaugingdevices shall not close the current before they have occupied a positioncorresponding to the respective dimensions of the work piece, themachine is provided with a central switch device 98, Figs. 2 and 7,which keeps the circuit to all gauge contacts disconnected, except whenthe contact arms are in measuring position. This contact device isactuated for instance by a curve disc 29 on one of the driven shafts. ofthe machine, by way of example the shaft 22 (and is of knownconstruction as regards form).

The sorting means Figs. 2 and 7. show ther device which, after the workpieces have passed all measuringv stations, transmits them to. the chuteor partition correspending to the category under which they are toy beclassified on basis. of. the measurements dbne.v As the predominant.number of. work pieces must normally be supposed to fall under thecategory accepted this device is made so that when the, work pieces,belong to this categorythey will be dischargedl into the correspondingchu-te |0| without the aid of any special mechanism for this purpose,which is also in accordance with the fact that the electrical contactmeans of the measuring devices are made so that an. electrical impulsearises only when a dimension exceeds the tolerance limits. Thus, withexception for the category accepted, a mechanism. is needed for eachcategory in which a sortingv of the work pieces is desirable, whileseparating of the different faults (dimension limits) in thesecategories is effected through connecting the corresponding gaugecontact to theY respective mechanism. The machine shown is made with twosuch mechanismsl Each sorting mechanism consistsV of a hub |04 or thelike secured to a shaft driven by the machine, preferably the shaft i3.driven by the star wheel mechanism, which shaft (in this case) turnsone-sixth revolution. for each, measuring operation, i. e.I less thanone revolution (prescribed condition) during the time needed for passingthe work piece through the maximum number of measuring stationsconnectable, in the shown machine a number of four. Six driver teeth |05(i. e. the inversely proportional number relatively the proportionsofthe number of revolution) are movably journallecl along thecircumference of the hub. |04 so that they may occupy two alternativepositions, Fig. 2. In` one of said positions they will, at the turningof the hub, enter into engagement with a member which actuates the workpiece in a manner sol as to transmit same to the corresponding partition|02, |03 for faulty work pieces, whilein the other position they passthis, member` without actuating the same otherwise than restoring it toits initial position. This member consists, for instance, of an arm 06journalled on the shaft i3, which armby means of a shoulder |01 securedthereto is brought to move by one,` of the above-mentioned teeth |05;when these. areflocated in driving position. ment,` being smaller thanone tooth pitch, i. e. in this case smaller than. one-sixth revolution,is limited. thereby that the teeth iaupon the said movement are restoredto their'free wheel position by a cam |08 rigidly arranged outside thehub |04. By way of.` example, the arm |06 actuates a flap me., Fig. l,via a rody l0 and an arm so that when the arm i has been. taken along byatooth |05, the work piece falls out in the partition |02 andmrespectively. When the arm |05 during this. operation has reached. itsturning position, alocling arm l swings down and. locksthe arm |00, butif the-following tooth |05 is. in free wheel position, this tooth willat the. turning of the hub. |00 immediately raise the locking. arm ithrough striking against an abutment shoulder H2 located thereon,whereby the arm. |06 is restored to its initial position by a spring H3,the return, movement of the arm |06 being limitedfor instance therebythat the shoulder 5.01, locatedV on the armit@ strikes against theabutment shoulder on the locking arm Ill.

Eig. '7 shows that the arm |05 for a part of its movement has beentaken. along by one of the teeth |05. The counterpart to this positionisthe position of a faulty work piece lit! immediately before it is to besorted out, but since the movable; members of. the machine are show-n inthe so-called.. gauging position,.this as well as the Work. pieces. inthe measuring stationsfis in .apasition of rest. If it should be desiredto have the work pieces marked when they are accepted, this marking ispreferably carried out in this position thereby that a guide I I4 or thelike, on which a suitable marking device H5 is provided, is pressed downagainst a cam disc I|9 or the like by a spring IIB so as to impart amovement to the marking device in direction downward against the Workpiece when this is located in the aforesaid position. If the work pieceis faulty, the moving of the marking device is prevented by a(arch-shaped) portion on ythe arm |06 which in the aforesaid positionengages the bottom face of a shoulder |2| rigidly mounted on the guideH4. This (arch-shaped) portion |20 is adapted so as to also bar themovement of the guide ||4 when the arm |06 remains in its turningposition in cases when also the next work piece is faulty. When thetooth |85 takes along the arm |86 to the shown barred position, the flap|09 is not actuated, as the connection between the arm IO` and the pullrod |||l has a corresponding play not shown, but when the tooth H35after the resting position of the work piece and the hub |34 continuesits movement, also the nap |09 is taken along, an accelerated initialspeed being obtained thereby that the hub is driven by a star wheelmechanism.

As the work pieces are separated in several categories, the sortingmeans must be so constructed, that if a work piece has a fault fallingunder one category and also a fault falling under another category, oneof these categories has the precedence, i. e. the work piece goes tothis category. This is effected as, by way of example, in the machineshown, wherein the (undermost) chute iliS has the precedence because,when the iap of same opens, the flap |09 closes the (middle) chute |02as well as the (uppermost) chute IDI.

The transmission of the teeth |05 to driving position is effected bymeans of electromagnets |26, which are actuated by the current impulseobtained when a faulty work piece is located in measuring position. Eachsorting mechanism is provided with four such electromagnets, the numberof which is like the maximum number of measuring stations connectable inthe machine shown. The electromagnets |26 are rigidly mounted about thehub |04 and have a uniform mutual pitch, said pitch being the same asfor the teeth |95, i. e. in this case one-sixth of the periphery.Besides, they are so positioned in angular relation to the tooth I5which is located right in iront of the arm Iiii as are the measuringstations in relation to the sorting station in respect of thelongitudinal pitch of the conveyor chain 5 between its carriers 3 iBecause all gauge contacts for a station and the category in questionare connected to the corresponding electromagnets, the correspondingtooth |65 will be transmitted to driving position if a gauge contactcloses the current, but the tooth |05 in question will not actuate thesorting mechanism until the corresponding work piece reaches the sortingposition, since the hub |34 turns a pitch for each pitch the conveyorchain 5 is driven by the star wheel mechanism.

The transmission to driving position of the tooth |05 by theelectromagnet |26 takes place for instance as shown in Figs. 8, 9through the action of the electromagnet on a turnable, springactuatedarmature |2'I provided with an arm |28 which in actuated position islocked by a springactuated latch |29. The arm |28 is so adapted that, inthe locked position thereof, it forces the tooth |05 over to its drivingend at the turning of the hub |04. The armature |27 together with thearm |28 then returns to its initial position thereby that the tooth |05lifts the latch through striking against a tongue |30 located on thelatch |29. Through this arrangement the least possible force andmovement is spent on the armature, and thus the amperage needed for theelectromagnet will also be the smallest possible one, which is ofimportance for the different contact members of the machine.

Electrz'cct contact device The contact device which registers the resultor each gauging, i. e. closes an electrical circuit when the dimensionin question exceeds the tolerance limits, consists of a casing |4|, Fig.10, wherein an arm |42 is turnably journalled, one end |43 of which isprotruding outside the casing while the other end |44 is adapted topress against a contact arm |45 turnably journalled in the casing |4|,the end of said contact arm which is provided with a contact pin |4$being swngable between two contacts |48, |49 settable and isolated bymeans of screws |41, which contacts are kept pressed against the saidset screws |41 by a spring |50. The contact arm |45 is actuated by aspring |59 which strives to turn the contact arm towards the one contact|48, while the arm |42 is actuated by a spring |52 which is so much morepowerful that it, since the arm |42 rests against the contact arm |45,turns the latter towards the other contact |49.

When the arm portion |43, which is located outside the casing |4|,through striking against that side towards which the spring |52 exerts aturning moment is actuated by the movable member |53 transmitting theimpact of the measuring body against the surface of the work piece to bemeasured, the contact arm |4 occupies that position relatively thecontacts |48 and |49 which corresponds to the dimension of the workpiece when same falls within the tolerance limits, whereas in case thedimension exceeds the tolerance limits, the contact arm |45 strikesagainst that contact |48 or |49 which corresponds to the exceededtolerance limit (maximum or minimum), a play at the same time arisingeither between the arm portion |44 and the contact arm |45, when contactis made at the Contact |48, or otherwise between the arm portion |43 andthe movable member |53, when contact is made at the contact |49.

This arm and spring system thus results in an enlarged deviation on themovement of the contact arm, whereby a suitable voltage may be chosenwithout sparking reducing the exactness of measuring, in an eliminationor reduction of the effect which the bearing play exerts on theexactness of measuring, in that the gauging member |53 may move beyondthe tolerance limits without influencing on the contact pressure orcausing an overload, and in that the (approximate) position of thedimension relatively the tolerance limits may be observed because thecasing is provided with a window |54, which facilitates inspection aswell as setting of the contacts |42 and Mg in accordance with theprototypes of measure which correspond to the tolerance limits and whichare placed in the machine instead of the work piece when the tolerancelimits are to be set. In doing so, the exact setting is establishedthrough electrical indication. For iixing the indicator in therespective gauging device, the casing |4| is provided with fixing 1 1means |65, whichis given a form fitting. the gauging device wherein itisl tobe fixed.

Device fminternal measuring The device for internal measuring, i. e. themember intended for measuring internaly diameters, depth and lengthetc., is fixed to the slide 51 in an appropriate way. Fig. 11 shows.such. a device, universally arranged for measuring at a maximum sixydimensions, and the fixing end of the special gauges or plug gaugesvwhich are shaped in accordance with the. work piece. It consists of abody |6| or the like, in which a piston |62 is displaceably journalled.One end |63A of said piston is connected with that arm 6 which transmitsthe so-called secondary movement from the driving means of thelmeasuring unit, when such a` one is needed. In said piston, smallerpistons (six in number) |64 or the like are semi-circularly distributedand displaceably journalled in axial direction relatively the piston|62, the centre line of which is displaced relatively a hole |65 locatedin the fore part of the body, the special gauges being,` xed in the saidhole. On account ofthe said centre displacement, Fig. 12, the pistonsitil will be helically positioned relatively the said hole centre,Whereby shoulders |66 on the displaceable pressure transmiters (sleeves)|611. or the plug gauge for the movable gauging bodies of the plug gaugethrough a turning of the plug gauge may be brought in engagement withthe front ends of the respective pistons |66, said front ends being madewith corresponding recesses, the contact surfaces of which are at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the pistons. Thus, the special pluggauges mayV easily be removed, and mounted respectively, when this beneeded for replacement or overhaul. The pistons |66.y are kept pressedforwardly relatively the piston |62 by springs |68-, the power of whichis adapted for the measuring pressure desirable for transmission via thepressure transmittersv |61 to the movable measuring bodies of the pluggauge, when the piston |62 is pushed forward: (to the right) i. e. whenthe measurement proper takes place, but each of the pistons |65v stopsin the position which corresponds to the dimensionV of the work piecefor the respective place of measuring. When the piston |62. after themeasuring returns (to the left), also the pistons |64 and the measuringmembers (sleeves) |61 are withdrawn thereby that the pistons |64' areprovided with a check nut |69 or the like which4 strikes.- against thepiston |62. The measuring deviations of the pistons |64 are registeredby the Contact device IM, which is setably fixed in the body |6| and thearm |46 of which strikes against a recess |10 or a shoulder on therespective piston |64;

In the cases of measurement, Fig. l5, when the plug gauge is providedwith measuring bodies corresponding to the minimum dimensions of thehole, which the respective measuring body shall be able to enter whenhaving the accepted dimension, but cannot enter if the hole is smallerthan this minimum dimension, the measuring body andthe pressuretransmitter (sleeve) acting on same must be allowed a recoiling movementrelatively the measuring device, corresponding to the depth of the hole,in order that the whole measuring device shall not be forced to stopwhen it is about to advance to measuring position. If the recoilingmovement needed is larger than allowed in the measuring device describedabove, the said piston |62 with co-operating details is removed and thebody |6| only is used as mountingfor the plug; gauge and the contacting.means. as shown in. Fig'. 13; In this case,y the. plug gauge ist so:adaptedY that the shuulW ders |66 of the pressure transmitters (sleeves)|61 in the measuring position are resting directly against therespective arm |43 of the.- measuring contacts, but. separate from samein: case of recoil. The necessary measuring pressure on each pressuretransmitter (sleeve) v|61 is suitably obtained by means of springs |81inserted inthe plugv gauge proper, as shown in. Fig. 15.

Plug gauges The part of the,- plug gauges. which during. the measurementis pushed into the hole. to be measured of the work piecev must, due: tothe restricted. roomat multi-dimensional measuring, be adapted to suitthe work piece and. the measures which. with regard to the room can bemeasured in theA respective station. and the manner which should bepreferred for the respective measurement in consideration. of theexactness of the measures and* the character of. the surfaces. Thus,dif'-v ferent measuring methods for diiierent measures may be combinedin one plug gauge, at the same time as certain. measurements. of aVcertain surface. (f. inst. cylinder or thread) may be effected in oneplug gauge and the other in one or several other plug gauges.

Figs. 14,. 1:5, 16 and 1'7. are showing, b-y way oi example, some. pluggauges wherein different measuring methods have been adapted.. Thedifferent measuring methods` disregarded, the plug gaugesare, as forinstance in Fig. 14, characterized by a plug or guide: sleeve |16, oneend.. |111' of which is appropriately adapted to be xed in a carrier orthe like, while in other respects being adapted to carry and guide anumber of measuring bodies Hi8-|83 which are actuating. or beingactuated by pressure transmitters axially displaceable in said guidesleeve |16, for instance pressure sleeves |84f (|61). or pressure rods|85, the ends of which protruding outside the mounting end 4|11 of theguide sleeve |16 are adapted withhelico=idally positioned shoulders |86(|66.) or're'cesses Fig. 18, so. that each pressure sleeve or pressurerod may be connected to the member which during the measurementregisters the measures of the. work piece and so that the pressureneeded' for pressing the measuring bodies against the work piece iseiiected y either by means of springs |81 placed in the plug gauge, asshown in Fig. 15, or outside same,

Figs. 1.4 and l1, the said spring power being` transmittedv through thepressure transmitters |84'. or. |85. Further features are. that thedii-l ferent. measuring bodies are arranged in av manner to obtain acertain floatingl without. influencing on the measurement, i. e. thatthe measurement is. not made dependent of an exact centering between`the plug gauge andv the work. piece. and that, when measuring depthsAand diameters with so-called fixed measuring bodies, these are adapted`with; contact shoulders |86` or edges, Figs. 21,. 23, lying, in. thesame plana, whereby a certain inclination of the work piece may beallowed with respect. to this. plane without neglecting the exactness ofmeasurement. This@ inclination is ofimportance; whenl the work pieceduring the measuringy is placed: in V-shaped blocks, in which case acertain. inclination arises on account of the fact that the diameters ofthework piece on the block are deviating difierentlyV from theI normalvdiameters, however without exceeding the tolerances of manufacture.

13 From Fig. 19 appears that for a small angle Al becomes practicallyequal to A2, which is the case when stop edges are used, whereas B willbe greater than AI when plane contact is in question.

With regard to the different measuring methods, Fig. 14 shows a pluggauge capable of carrying out six different measurements. The diameter ais measured with a measuring body HS, the outer shell of which consistsof either two cylindrical parts, each one at the front provided with abevel (and a clearance groove between the cylindrical parts when deeperholes are to be measured), or two spherical parts (or com bination ofcylindrical and spherical parts), the front part in both casescorresponding to the maximum measure of the hole, so that when themeasuring body is pushed into the hole, the front part goes in but notthe rear one ii the hole keeps the tolerance limits. It the hole issmaller than the minimum limit, the fore part will not go in, and if itexceeds the maximum limit, also the rear part will pass in. At theapplication of this method it is thus necessary that the hole is open atthe bottom or provided with clearance or the like so as t/o let thefront end pass freely, as also the rear end shall be able to pass intoholes exceeding the maximum limit. The measuring body E78 is inappropriate manner connected with the corresponding pressure transmitter185 so that a certain radial play 139 arises between the measuring bodyand the pressure rod, whereby the necessary "oating is obtained.

When the hole at the inner end is not open or provided with clearance orhollow moulding, but is sharply demarcated as the hole b, it cannot bemeasured wi'th a combined maximum/minimum gauge. Therefore, the maximumand minimum limits must be measured individually, the minimum limitsbeing measured as illustrated in Fig. 15. The measuring body i90, thediameter of which corresponds to the minimum diameter of the hole, is atthe front end provided with an entering bevel ld' which is largest onthe lower side and decreases upwards so that the upper side willcorrespond completely to the shape of the hole. rIhe measuring body iddis connected with the corresponding pressure transmitter, i. e. pressurerod i555 or pressure sleeve L84 in a suitable way so as to give rise toa cer tain radial play 89 between the measuring body and the pressuresleeve or rod, lwhereby the necessary floating is obtained, and themeasuring body is provided with a pin E95 or the like, which withallowance for a small play ts into a correspending recess in thepressure rod in order to prevent the measuring body from turning.Because the measuring body on account of the play ISS prior to beingpushed into the hole b will be located somewhat lower than same, whereasthe front of the measuring body thanks to the entering bevel 19d ispositioned within the diameter of the hole, the measuring body is at theinsertion catched by the outer edge of the hole even if the centrepositio-n of the hole should vary somewhat.

The maximum diameter of the hole b is gauged for instance with ameasuring body i119, as shown in Fig. lll, the outer shell of whichconsists of a spherical or cylindrical surface provided with an enteringbevel at the front thereof. The outer diameter corresponds to themaximum diameter of the hole, for which reason the measuring body willstop if the diameter of the hole is of accepted size, in which case thesaid diameter will reach the outer edge of the hole at the insertion ofthe measuring body, but passes into the hole if this exceeds thetolerance limit. This measuring body is iloatingly connected with thecorrespending pressure sleeve |84 like the measuring bodies mentionedabove.

When holes c are concerned, the outer edge and/or the inner end of whichare bevelled or rounded, the front end of the corresponding minimumgauge ISE may be given a shape corresponding to the minimum measures ofthe inner end of the hole. In these cases, consequently, it is notnecessary to provide the measuring body with any special entering bevel,but only to connect it fioatingly with the corresponding pressuretransmitter 84 or |85.

l'n the measuring methods described above, the tolerance limits of thediameters of the hole are thus determined through the outer diameter ofthe respective measuring bodies, for Which reason the tolerancesregistered on the maximum/minimum indicators will be the tolerances onthe depth dimension of the hole and not the diameter tolerances, andtherefore the diameters as well as the depth of the holes are gaugedsimultaneously. In case the hole is too deep, but the diameter is belowthe minimum limit, the minimum gauge thus will not pass into the hole,and as a consequence the work piece is discharged as correo-table, whileit should be discharged as cancelled because the hole is too deep. If itis desirable to prevent such events, the measurement or depths may beeffected separately with a measuring body having a diameter so muchbelow the minimum limit as may reasonably be anticipated. Fig. 15 showsas an example for the diameter d the application of this measuringmethod for measurement of depths, a cylindrical measuring body E93 withan outer diameter smaller than the minimum dimensions of thecorresponding diameter of the hole being rigidly connected with thecorresponding pressure transmitter 58d, while the possible inclinationof the work piece is compensated by the frontside of the measuring bodybeing provided with shoulders |88 disposed in the horizontal plane, asshown in Fig. 2.

The described methods for tolerance gauging of hole-diameters areparticularly suited for small diameters, and when larger diameters areconcerned, they are preferably replaced by methods in which a conicalbody through axial displacement pushes a number of radially displaceableballs, pistons or jaws outwards toward the surface to be measured. Thenecessary iloating is in this case obtained through permitting theconical body E95 and its basic plane a certain radial play |89. Fig. 14illustrates as an example the measurement of particularly the I maximummeasure of the diameter c (the minimum dimension of which is gauged witha minimum gauge according to Fig. 15 as described above) by means ofballs 80, the balls, at least three in number, being guided bycylindrical holes radially disposed in the sleeve 76, the outer edge ofsaid holes being partly covered by a sleeve or springy ring i9? whichhas for its purpose to prevent the balls from falling out when nomeasurement takes place.

Fig. 14: shows the measurement of by way of example, the irmer diameterof threads with the aid of radially movable pistons 93|, the ends ofwhich resting against the thread are cylindrically shaped, While theends contacting the conical body |96 are adapted with the -same angle of

